OUTDOORS

Toys for Tots fishing tournament a success

Published: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 1:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 1:57 p.m.

The sixth annual Toys for Tots fishing tournament was a glowing success over the weekend at Lake Weir.

Saturday's event, sponsored by Big Sun Bassmasters, featured 25 boats — nine more than last year — and 49 fishermen.

The event raised $792 for Toys for Tots, Dan Burgess of Big Sun Bassmasters said. Each fisherman was asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate as well. When all was said and done, six large Toys for Tots boxes were overflowing with toys, Burgess said.

The winning team of Clifford Dawson and Nicky Feasel reeled in the biggest haul of the tournament with a little more than 12 pounds of bass, including the big bass (8.1 pounds).

David Westerlund and Stoney Jackson from Marion County Bassmasters finished in second place with a little more than 11 pounds of bass in their five-fish bag.

Marion County Parks and Recreation, Boat Shack of Ocala, Marion County Bassmasters and Junior Bassmasters of Marion County were co-sponsors for the event.

MARION COUNTY BASSMASTERS: The club will fish Lake Harris on Saturday, launching out of Venetian Garden in Leesburg.

Meanwhile, the Junior Bassmasters of Marion County will kick off 2014 with a tournament Jan. 18 on Lake Rousseau. For those interested in joining the junior club, a meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 3 at Gander Mountain. A meeting for the adult club starts at 7 p.m. the same day.

Call club president Daniel Tillis at 572-3148 for more information on the junior or adult club.

BEAR UPDATE: Two bears have been trapped and euthanized in an Orlando-area suburb on the heels of last week's incident where a woman was mauled while walking her two dogs.

The first bear — a female weighing close to 200 pounds — was captured Dec. 5 in the Longwood subdivision where the mauling happened. The second bear was a 200-pound male and was caught late Sunday.

---

Contact Ted Beck at ted.beck@ocala.com to contribute story ideas for this report.

<p>The sixth annual Toys for Tots fishing tournament was a glowing success over the weekend at Lake Weir.</p><p>Saturday's event, sponsored by Big Sun Bassmasters, featured 25 boats — nine more than last year — and 49 fishermen.</p><p>The event raised $792 for Toys for Tots, Dan Burgess of Big Sun Bassmasters said. Each fisherman was asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate as well. When all was said and done, six large Toys for Tots boxes were overflowing with toys, Burgess said.</p><p>The winning team of Clifford Dawson and Nicky Feasel reeled in the biggest haul of the tournament with a little more than 12 pounds of bass, including the big bass (8.1 pounds).</p><p>David Westerlund and Stoney Jackson from Marion County Bassmasters finished in second place with a little more than 11 pounds of bass in their five-fish bag.</p><p>Marion County Parks and Recreation, Boat Shack of Ocala, Marion County Bassmasters and Junior Bassmasters of Marion County were co-sponsors for the event.</p><p><b>MARION COUNTY BASSMASTERS:</b> The club will fish Lake Harris on Saturday, launching out of Venetian Garden in Leesburg.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Junior Bassmasters of Marion County will kick off 2014 with a tournament Jan. 18 on Lake Rousseau. For those interested in joining the junior club, a meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Jan. 3 at Gander Mountain. A meeting for the adult club starts at 7 p.m. the same day.</p><p>Call club president Daniel Tillis at 572-3148 for more information on the junior or adult club.</p><p><b>BEAR UPDATE:</b> Two bears have been trapped and euthanized in an Orlando-area suburb on the heels of last week's incident where a woman was mauled while walking her two dogs.</p><p>The first bear — a female weighing close to 200 pounds — was captured Dec. 5 in the Longwood subdivision where the mauling happened. The second bear was a 200-pound male and was caught late Sunday.</p><p>---</p><p><i>Contact Ted Beck at ted.beck@ocala.com to contribute story ideas for this report.</i></p>